Tokyo DisneySea Opening Day Report
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Until they'd backed through the passage and guest spilled into Mediterranean Harbor.
Click four 4 second
video clip
(414k MPG Video)
This longer video gives more of an idea of the almost surreal excitement of this
incredible moment.
Click four 10 second
video clip
(927k MPG Video)
It's been a very long and exciting day... I'm quite literally exhausted, so I'm going to keep my observations brief for the time being -
The crowd today was not a throng as I expected. Initially, I was more taken aback by how seemingly moderate (not light) the crowds were. But then I wandered into the shops... They usually don't go nuts until the end on the day at TDL and, so far, at DisneySea, but on opening day they didn't let up from the morning on! It was obvious everyone was hell bent to get their opening day souvenirs and omiyage.
It also came as a surprise to me that the official policy was and will continue to be to withhold a percentage of tickets from advance sales in order to ensure that at least some guests who arrive at the park without a ticket (or voucher) will be able to purchase admission (what that percentage is I don't know at this point).
The improvement in Journey to the center of the Earth was startling! The timing/pacing problems are simply - gone. I commend the effort that must have been made to accomplish such a turnaround. I'm likening it to a good movie that is reedited by it's director into a great movie. I've very happy to now say - What an outstanding attraction! I can't wait to get back on it and it's Mariko's favorite.
Aquatopia surprised me, too! They managed to smooth out the ride quite a bit and spice it up (more than I thought possible) by bringing the vehicles closer to the water effects (without getting them wet) among other adjustments in their programing. I enjoyed the ride, especially at night.
In closing, Michael Eisner and Roy Disney didn't mention this fact... and most surprisingly to me, neither did Toshio Kagami, but I will - September 4th was Takahashi Masatomo's birthday.
Discuss It
Related Links
- Opening
Day Ceremony Photographs
From a Japanese Disney fansite. All text is in Japanese. - Links to our Tokyo DisneySea Tour
- August 10th Land of the Rising MIckey DisneySea Overview
- TokyoResort.com
Marc's site with more DisneySea pictures and information.
-- Posted September 4, 2001
-- Story and pictures by Marc Borrelli